Nauser to oppose Kelly for 24th District Missouri House seat

COLUMBIA — Fifth Ward Councilwoman Laura Nauser filed Tuesday for the Republican nomination to the 24th district seat in the Missouri House of Representatives.

She will be opposing Missouri Rep. Chris Kelly, a Democrat and the current representative for the 24th district. No other candidates have filed for the seat as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the first filing day for state and national offices.

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Laura Nauser, shown here at a crime prevention news conference on June 6, has filed to run against Rep. Chris Kelly for the 24th District seat to the Missouri House of Representatives.

Nauser said she finalized her decision last week. This is Nauser's first campaign for state office.

Nauser said she would focus on lowering taxes, job growth, job creation and education.

"I just would represent the more conservative positions and focus on
the things that I think are important — job growth, lower taxes, moving Columbia forward," Nauser said. "All these things are important to me as a mother, wife and business owner."

She said her experience on City Council would help her address the issues that are important to people in Columbia.

"I've been representing this ward, which is part of the 24th district, for five years, and I feel like I have an understanding of what my constituents are looking for," Nauser said. "Being on City Council, I see how some of the decisions in the state government affect our city, both positively and adversely."

Kelly said he will continue to run on the things he has fought for while in office.

"We're going to continue to fight for economic development, education," Kelly said. "We're going to continue to fight for the bridge at the airport. None of those things change by virtue of who the opponent is or isn't."

Nauser said Kelly and she "both share a love for
the city of Columbia," and that their distinction would stem from their different perspectives.

City Attorney Fred Boeckmann said if Nauser were to win, the Council would appoint someone by majority vote to serve the rest of her term.

The primary election will be Aug. 3. The general election will be Nov. 2. The last day to register to vote for the general election is Oct. 6.